President Joe Biden has recently taken a more aggressive approach toward his likely 2024 presidential opponent, Donald Trump, by resorting to personal jabs and mockery, a significant shift from his previously more restrained style. While the 2024 election may resemble the Biden-Trump contest from four years ago, Biden’s recent verbal assaults on Trump indicate a more combative strategy, one designed to get under Trump’s skin and possibly provoke him into an unguarded response.
Biden’s recent barbs have included references to Trump’s financial struggles, the falling stock price of Trump’s Truth Social company, and jokes about Trump’s golf skills. At the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Biden quipped that he’s “running against a 6-year-old,” drawing attention to Trump’s behavior. These comments suggest Biden is more willing to engage in personal attacks to gain an advantage, a stark contrast to his traditional image as a politician who avoids name-calling and focuses on unifying rhetoric.
Early in his presidency, Biden often avoided even mentioning Trump’s name, using terms like “the former guy” or “my predecessor.” However, with Trump emerging as the likely Republican nominee, Biden’s strategy has shifted. During a recent speech to building-trade unions, Biden mentioned Trump’s name 22 times in 25 minutes, poking fun at Trump’s previous remarks about injecting bleach to combat COVID-19, his legal troubles with Stormy Daniels, and even his hair color.
This change in approach could be a calculated attempt to appeal to Biden’s base, who may appreciate seeing him fight back against Trump’s attacks. Yet, it also poses risks, as Trump’s well-known ability to counterpunch could escalate the back-and-forth to a level that undermines Biden’s reputation for civility. Trump has already responded to Biden’s insults, with his campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, suggesting that Biden’s administration should be more concerned about issues like border security, inflation, and crime rates than personal insults.
